Kiss the Waves

Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me against the rock of ages.” I can’t get this out of my mind.

We are studying Psalm 119 right now, specifically vs 65-72 this past week, that reads:

You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.

Teach me good judgment adn knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.

You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.

The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.

It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. Gosh… learning to kiss the waves… that’s some real understanding of God’s love. Do you have kids? Have they ever disobeyed a directive that you had to punish? Have you ever said, “Don’t do ‘that’ or you’ll have a spanking, time-out, grounding, and then, when they do it, act completely put out, broken-hearted, or even angry?! And then you have to remind them that you said exactly what would happen… well, that’s written all over the Bible between God and His people, up to and including us. He has always given His expectations along with consequences for disobedience. God’s people sin, He punishes to redirect them, they come back into right relationship with Him.

Here’s the thing. Of my five kids, none of them are ever thankful for the correction in the moment. Looking back to my childhood, I never appreciated it either. But how many of us, once we reach adulthood, especially after having our own kids, can look back and say, ‘thanks mom, thanks dad’ for laying out boundaries and consequences when I crossed them?

It’s the same for the Psalmist: he can look back and see that God’s affliction kept him humble, compassionate, and in-step with the Lord. It’s a never ending process, but I’m glad to be in a place where I can say, I’ve seen how affliction from the Lord has ‘right the ship’ in my life, brought me back in line with Him, and serves to keep me there.

I’m learning to kiss the waves and I hope you are as well.

~Jules